Clinical Services
CLINICAL SERVICES AT WILMINGTON CENTER:
The Wilmington TEACCH Center offers clinical services that are tailored to meet the unique needs of each autistic individual across the lifespan and their family. Services are designed to promote communication, executive function, social skills, and emotion regulation. Parent coaching is provided to help parents understand their child’s unique learning styles.
Diagnostic Evaluations
The Wilmington TEACCH Center provides diagnostic evaluations for children, adolescents, and adults who are thought to have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) but have not yet received a diagnosis. Evaluations typically consists of two visits- the first being the diagnostic interview at the Wilmington center and the second being the assessment at the Raleigh or Wilmington center. The Wilmington Center also offers diagnostic evaluations for Spanish speaking families.
What does an evaluation include?
- Diagnostic interview with individual and/or caregivers and questionnaires
- Review of medical, social, academic, and developmental history
- Testing sessions with the individual using empirically-based assessments including the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule – 2nd edition (ADOS-2) and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale – 2nd edition (CARS2)
- Other additional assessments as needed
Results are shared during an interpretive conference, typically at the end of the diagnostic day. Family members of an adult who is their own guardian are welcome to attend the interpretive conference at the invitation of the individual.
Report with recommendations is mailed to the family or individual (if client is an adult). Reports include individualized, written evaluation summary with a list of recommendations and resources.
Intervention / Therapy Services – Individual
TEACCH for Toddlers is a comprehensive approach for toddlers diagnosed with autism and their families incorporating naturalistic, structured, and behavioral (e.g., ABA) strategies. An interdisciplinary team of specialists, including psychologists, social workers, and educators will work with you and your child to promote better outcomes for all. TEACCH for Toddlers entails:
One of our Autism Specialists will work with children and caregivers to:
1) promote communication, social, and play skills and increase flexibility
2) provide education, coaching, and parent-to-parent support to parents
The program lasts for approximately 14 weeks per family, with rolling admissions throughout the year.
- Who: Individual with ASD under 3 years and their parents. Child must enroll in Intensive before 2 years and 7 months to complete treatment before turning 3 years of age.
- Location: Clinic
- Duration: 3 hours/week for 14 weeks
- Billing: Adaptive Behavior Therapy Some insurance companies will cover this service, while others may not. Recent legislative changes in NC ensure that more and more insurance companies will cover this type of service.
TEACCH for Toddlers (TFT) is a comprehensive approach for autistic toddlers and their families, incorporating naturalistic, structured, and behavioral intervention strategies. Family Implemented TEACCH for Toddlers (FITT) is our way of coaching parents to (1) understand how their toddler learns and (2) use naturalistic and structured strategies to promote engagement. The Interventionist conducts an initial interview to determine a treatment plan and broad goals for parents and the child. Weekly TEACCH for Toddlers sessions are focused on child and parental goals.
- Who: Individual with ASD under 4 years and their parents
- Location: Clinic or Virtual
- Duration: 60 min/week for 12 weeks
Individualized Parent TEACCHing Sessions are designed to facilitate a collaboration/partnership between TEACCH staff and parents. A key to this collaboration is our underlying philosophy that parents know their children best and that TEACCH can provide information, strategies, and support to address the needs of their children. Individual parent TEACCHing sessions are available to parents of autistic individuals of all ages.
These sessions provide an opportunity for parents to learn ways of teaching their child at home, build self-help and other home skills including communication and social skills, as well as address behavioral concerns. Sessions are 45 minutes in length and are offered weekly. The number of sessions varies depending on the individual’s needs (typically eight to twelve sessions). During the sessions, a therapist works directly with the child to model suggested strategies and then works with the parent to implement these strategies that address the concerns the parent may have.
- Who: Individual with ASD 4 through adulthood and their parents
- Location: Clinic or virtual
- Duration: 45 or 60 min/Week for 12 weeks
Speech/Language sessions are provided integrating Structured TEACCHing within the most current language development practices. Visual supports including core boards, aided language, and visual scenes are used in sessions to increase an individual’s ability to understand others and share thoughts, ideas, and feelings. Sessions provide an opportunity for families to learn ways of supporting their child at home and in the community. Possible areas of focus include behavior problem-solving, self-help, communication, emotional dysregulation, daily living, executive functioning, and self-advocacy and social skills.
- Who: Individual with ASD,4 years through age 13
- Location: Clinic or Virtual
- Duration: 45-60 minute/Week, length based on need
This service is designed for individuals to address social communication challenges, emotional dysregulation, daily living, executive functioning, and self-advocacy. We utilize evidence-based modalities (e.g., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) combined with structured TEACCHing strategies (e.g., visual supports) to work on treatment goals. Depending on age and preference, sessions may be individual or may include involvement from caregivers/family members. Typically therapy sessions at TEACCH are time limited and solution focused.
- Who: Individual with ASD, school age through adulthood
- Location: Clinic or Virtual
- Duration: 45-60 minute sessions, occur weekly based on need
Intervention / Therapy Services – Group
This group focuses on teaching and practicing skill-focused modules (Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness) which are designed to help individuals improve management of behavioral, emotional, and cognitive instability. New skills are presented each week, and homework is assigned for individuals to practice during the week and reviewed in future groups.
- Age: Individuals with ASD age 18 and older
- Location: Virtual
- Duration: 90 minutes/week for 16 weeks
Vocational
The TEACCH® School Transition to Employment and Postsecondary Education Program (T-STEP) FREE, evidence-based college class to help autistic students transition to adulthood. The program is for 16–21 year-olds with Autism Spectrum Disorder who will or have received a Future-Ready Core high school diploma.
Support and Education
This group provides parents an opportunity to meet and talk with other parents in a supportive setting. The group is facilitated by a clinician from the Wilmington Center. It meets monthly.
This free service is provided to families of children under the age of 4 years who are currently on our waitlist. Focus of the series is on an introduction into the use of naturalistic, developmental, behavioral, and Structured TEACCHing strategies to be used in the home and community. The series runs for a total of 6 weeks and meets for 1 ¾ hours, and is virtual.
Consultation to Schools, Group Homes, and Other Agencies
TEACCH provides consultation services to local school systems, group homes, and other agencies providing services to autistic individuals and their families. Agencies can request consultation for a program and an individual client. Please call your local TEACCH office at 919-445-0680 for more information.